The exhaust system included in all modern vehicles has been designed to carry out very specific tasks, such as controlling and reducing the emission of toxic gases into the atmosphere. At the same time, this sophisticated system eliminates the loud and disturbing noises generated by the engine.
The exhaust system is the waste disposal system of a motorised vehicle. The residual gases resulting from the combustion of the fuel and the air inside the cylinders travel through a long tube, to finally be expelled from the rear of the car. Because these gases are poisonous, the exhaust system has several integrated devices to control the emissions of some toxic substances before they are expelled into the atmosphere.
Exhaust System Major Points
The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (ERG Valve) is used in the exhaust system so that unburned gases are redirected from the lower parts of the engine to the main engine, where they will be burned again. This helps to reduce the levels of contamination by toxins that never leave the engine, and increases the fuel efficiency thanks to the use of these gases when entering a second time through the system.
The exhaust manifold is composed of a group of pipes that collect the output of the multiple cylinders of the engine, and directs the gases produced in the engine through the exhaust pipe system to finally be expelled outwards by the exhaust pipe. This is the initial part of the exhaust system and its presence reduces wear on engine parts and improves overall efficiency.
The catalytic converter is essentially a long cylinder that is connected to the exhaust pipe system just after the manifold to reduce the toxic elements of the waste gas produced by the engine. It is usually filled with small ceramic pellets or a complex cross-linked structure coated with a metallic substance that interacts with pollutants to further reduce the emissions that are released into the air.
The remaining gases continue through the exhaust pipe and pass through a chamber unit called a “silencer” that controls the noise coming from the engine and regulates the gas that escapes just before reaching the exhaust pipe. An additional benefit of the silencer is that it helps maintain the equilibrium pressure in the system, which further improves engine efficiency and protects the catalyst from temperature changes that could cause damage.
The exhaust pipe is located at the rear of the vehicle and is the last part of the exhaust pipe system; this is responsible for releasing the remaining gases. This tube is generally placed down to direct the gases away from the vehicle and to ensure that the contaminants do not recede and enter the habitable parts of the vehicle.
Our team at Alpha Mobile Mechanics is prepared to check your exhaust system and make sure it’s working properly.